Funeral Arrangements for Soldiers
Army Staff Sgt. Jason Hendrix was killed in Iraq, and then buried next to his paternal grandfather (as per his father's wishes). However, Mr. Hendrix's parents are divorced, and his mother is now suing to gain custody of his remains -- the story is here. If Hendrix's mother, Renee Amick, is successful, Mr. Hendrix's body may be exhumed. The probate court judge in the case has decided that this isn't a probate issue, and that Mr. Hendrix's father must pursue a civil case.
This case may lead to a law requiring soldiers to designate an agent to handle their funeral arrangements. I'm normally in favor of this type of preplanning, but wouldn't a better option be to require a deceased soldier's family members to act with a modicum of common decency?
